INTERVENTIONS FOR OPIOID INDUCED RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION
- Most likely to occur in sedated pts
- If respirations are depressed:
- Assess sedation level
- Reduce infusion rate by 25% when possible
- Stimulate pt (shake shoulder gently, call by name, ask to breathe)
- Give oxygen
- Encourage pt. to deep breathe
- If pt cannot be aroused or is apneic
- Administer naloxone (Narcan)
- for children weighing <40 kg (88 lbs), dilute 0.1 mg naloxone in 10 ml sterile saline to make 10mcg/ml solution and give 0.5mcg/kg
- for children weighing >40 kg (88 lbs), dilute 0.4 mg ampule in 10 ml sterile saline and give 0.5 ml
- Administer bolus by slw IV push q2min until effect is obtained
- Closely monitor pt. Naloxone's duration of antagonist action may be shorter than that of opioid, requiring repeated doses of naloxone
- Oxygen bag and mask
- Lower infusion rate
- Administer naloxone (Narcan)